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[Seth Hawkins]

 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Seth, You run into the same problem with the EAA Big Bore Bounty Hunter's, the case heads are inset into the cylinder. Can't be seen from the side.
Basically, I inform the person on the table, then count out five, load one, make sure the table person sees me skip one, then load four. Go to full cock on the hammer and let it down slowly. Haven't had a problem with them yet..........Buck

[Pappy Hayes]

What if you load the revolver and leave the gate open after letting the hammer down. Shouldn't that allow the spotter to see that the hammer is down on empty cylinder.

[Montana Slim]

...interesting that some modern guns share this same "quirk" as an original style.
To me this Richards would be the preferred method of converting an 1860 C&B gun, as it forces the cylinder foward setting end-shake & maintains headspace.

I figure the shooter is ultimately responsible for the safety of their firearms, regardless of what an RO might tell me. Therefore, if they have confidence in whatever method they're using, I'll go with that. However, if I sense confusion, we slow down & go through the loading procedure v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

Slim

[Fox Creek Kid]

Montana Slim, the ring has nothing to do with headspace other than as a "backstop". That is determined by the fit of the cylinder face and the original Richards conversions had no gas ring and fouled as badly as a regular '60 Army. 

[Montana Slim]

We may simply have to disagree on the features of the Richards.....I have a fair+ knowledge of the Richards as I re-engineered several conversions (Colt 51, 60 & Rem NA), including a 1st model Richards using 3-D CAD modeling (perhaps even providing some small assistance to those developing some of the conversion firearms presently on the market today)  & can confidently state the Ring serves a functional purpose in positioning of the cylinder...at least if it is engineered to do so. Note I did not reverse engineer from an original piece. Thanks, but I am quite familiar with how headspace is measured / designed on a wide variety of firearms...don't have the tee-shirt, but I do teach a genuine "class" which includes the topic.

Sounds like there is some agreement that the shooter is responsible for the condition of their firearms & the person watching the loading table is providing oversight to the loading process & control of the table.

Slim

[Montana Slim]

My design actually overlaped the cylinder and had  ~ .005 clearance, which combined with other tolerances gave a fit that essentially "touched" the cylinder, controlling position.  See your point vs. an original Richards, as I was addressing my re-engineered conversion along the same principle having similar features. Without contacting the cylinder it has no purpose, except to add cost & keep dust out..easy to see why they dropped it. I should have figured Colt wouldn't get it right on the first try .... ("insider" pun & joke all in one).

Slim

Contrary to popular belief, a tight fit between the end of the cylinder and the barrel on a Colt type percussion / converted percussion revolver reduces fouling problems, affects headspace & enhances reliability.